Don’t Miss Your HERALD — it’s insiDe! __________________ Merrick _________________
Graduation Keepsake
HERALD
Edition
June 25, 2026
GRADUATES
2026
Vol. 29 No. 26
OVER 25 YEARS OF EXP ERIENCE
ME VALUATION
Page 3 JuNE 25 - July 1, 2026
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Local extends softball career in Puerto Rico the first time. Guerrero, a former standout at Mepham, has been playeding W h e n H a i l e y G u e r r e r o softball since she was 7 years boarded a plane to Puerto Rico old. She attended Martin Aveearlier this summer, the Bell- nue Elementary School and more native wasn’t sure she Grand Avenue Middle School before starring at Mepham, was making the right decision. The 22-year-old Mepham where she helped the Pirates High School graduate had just win multiple county championcompleted her collegiate soft- ships and establish themselves ball career at Iona among Nassau University and was County’s elite propreparing for the grams. next chapter of her After graduating life. Then an unexin 2022, Guerrero pected opportunity be g an her collearrived — an invitagiate career at tion to play profesStony Brook Unisional softball in versity before Puerto Rico. transferring to At first, GuerreIona, where she ro wasn’t convinced completed her she should go. degree this spring. HAIlEy GuERRERo “I literally cried Like many colat first,” she said. “I Bellmore lege athletes, Guerwas not going to do rero expected her it, and everyone I talked to was competitive playing career to like, ‘You have to go. You’ll end after graduation. never have this opportunity “I was supposed to actually again.’” stop playing,” she said. “SoftNow, just weeks later, Guer- ball has been my whole life, and rero is helping lead Juncos, one I realized how much I would of Puerto Rico’s top softball miss it.” clubs, toward the league playThe opportunity to continue offs while discovering a deeper playing came through connecconnection to her Puerto Rican tions she made during her colheritage and learning what it lege career. A former teammate means to live independently for Continued on page 11
By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ
hgaldamez@liherald.com
Courtesy Merrick Chamber of Commerce
Scholarship winners recognized The Merrick Chamber of Commerce scholarship honorees were celebrated at the Merrick Library on June 18. The Chamber awards scholarship awards to two members of each graduating class.
Celebrating America in Merrick
Block party, adventure books and lectures teach history By JoSEPH D’AlESSANDRo jdalessandro@liherald.com
As America tur ns 250, Nassau County’s libraries are seizing the opportunity to share national history with a local twist. The Merrick Library will host the ‘Merricka 250 Block Party on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. — one of many events that capture the allAmerican spirit of the celebration. “We have our America 250 block party, so we’re going to have live music,” said Christina Bonfiglio-Scali, head of community engagement at the library. “We are going to have lawn games, live music, crafts. We’re doing barbecue hot dogs that are free, popsicles, and the Nassau Library Techmobile is going to be here.” The festival also offers young attendees an opportunity to engage in the library’s summer reading challenge. “Summer learning is always important, and we always approach it in a kind of multimodal format,” Head Librarian Rachel Sferlazza said.
“For America 250, our activity challenge is all about local historical sites throughout our town, getting children to know not just their neighborhood, but also their shared history here in Merrick. This year, young people are provided with Adventure Passport booklets, used in tandem with the six-week summer reading challenge. As part of their summer reading registration bag, participants will have information about different historical sites around town that they can visit. Some sites involve trivia questions, or challenges like borrowing books about New York State history at the library. For each activity they complete, they earn a raffle ticket towards gift baskets at the end of the summer. “It’s another way of promoting literacy and critical thinking, but that doesn’t require sitting in a chair for a long period of time. It’s get up, get outside, which is always important in the summer, and go explore your shared history,” Sferlazza continued. “In other words, reading is crucial, and the more that you read, the more Continued on page 2
I
think the biggest adjustment for me was the sense of independence.